If you’re a researcher interested in studying MAPs, and you’re dissatisfied with the limitations of most current research due to its narrow social-control perspective and reliance on forensic or clinical samples, B4U-ACT may be able to help you. We can assist in any of the following areas:

  • recruiting MAPs from the general population for your study
  • developing and/or refining research questions, interview protocols, or survey items
  • developing sensitivity toward the the issues MAPs face and ways of developing the trust needed to conduct research with this population
  • developing a more nuanced or holistic research perspective on which to base your study

We assist researchers who see MAPs as partners in their project–as people who have valuable expertise about themselves, their situation, and the importance of various research topics. We encourage research that focuses on questions important to MAPs and related to their mental health needs. We place priority on qualitative studies, where researchers interact with MAPs as people, and where research is most likely to produce the deepest insights into who MAPs are as fellow humans–their feelings, motives, character, and needs, and why they have them.

Our expectation is that research adheres to principles accepted by sociologists who work with marginalized populations:

  • The research must be based on respect for the knowledge, skills, and experience of people in the group being studied.
  • Marginalized groups are active subjects rather than passive objects of the research.
  • The research questions should be centered around issues of interest and concern to the group being studied.
  • The researcher’s participation with the marginalized group should be characterized by committed involvement rather than impartial detachment.
  • Research findings should be shared with the marginalized group in a means deemed appropriate by the group, e.g., public meeting; workshop allowing for discussion, feedback and modification of findings; summary sheet; report; not necessarily a thesis or academic papers.
  • There should be positive outcomes of the research for the marginalized group, and any anticipated negative outcomes should be eliminated if possible.

–Scheyvens, R., Scheyvens, H., & Murray, W. (2003). Working with Marginalised, Vulnerable or Privileged Groups. In R. Scheyvens, & D. Storey (Eds.), Development Fieldwork. (pp. 168-194). London, England: SAGE Publications Ltd.

For more information about our expectations for research we assist with, please see our research ethos.

If you’re interested in conducting such research and wish to explore the possibility of working with us, contact us at science@b4uact.org. We look forward to talking with you and learning more about your research.